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Menidae
The moonfish of the genus ''Mene'', the sole extant genus of the family Menidae, are disk-shaped fish which bear a vague resemblance to gourami, thanks to their thread-like pelvic fins. Today, the genus is represented only by ''Mene maculata'' of the Indo-Pacific, where it is a popular food fish, especially in the Philippines, where it is known as ''bilong-bilong'', ''chabita'', ''hiwas'' or ''tahas''.Small-scale fisheries of San Miguel Bay, Philippines: options for management and research. . As a genus, ''Mene'' has a long fossil history, with species found in marine sediments throughout the Cenozoic Era. The earliest accepted species, '' M. purdyi'' from the Paleocene of Peru, resemble later species, such as '' M. rhombea'' of the Monte Bolca lagerstätte, and even the living species, ''M. maculata''. Experts remain undecided whether the Tunisian species, '' M. phosphatica'' is from the Lower Paleocene, thus making it older than ''M. purdyi'', or whether it is from the Ypresi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mene Rhombea
''Mene rhombea'' is an extinct perciform fish belonging to the family Menidae. During the Middle Eocene (Lutetian epoch), about 48 to 40 mya, these fishes lived in the Tethys Ocean, a large tropical sea in the area corresponding to the current Mediterranean. This ocean was extended between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia. At this time, where Monte Bolca is today, ''M. rhombea'', and its relative, '' M. oblonga'', lived in a tropical lagoon. Description ''Mene rhombea'' had a laterally compressed body, very long and slim pelvic fins and a wide triangular tail fin. As suggested by their fossils' small, upturned mouths, and by comparison of its living relative, as ''Mene maculata'', fishes of this species were planktivore. The species shows close affinities with contemporary species inhabiting the coral reef environment of the Indo-Pacific warm seas. Distribution Their greatly valued fossils comes from the laggerstat Monte Bolca, about 30 kilometres north-east of Verona ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |